Carton packing machine



Dec. 27, 1955 K. B. HOLSTEBROE ET AL CARTON PACKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July J1, 1950 NNY ATTORNEYS INVENTORS KAYE B. HOLSTEBROE EDGAR ARDELL. JOHN H. MOSLEY D 7, 1955 K. B. HOLSTEBROE ETAL I 2,728,177

CARTON PACKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July J1, 1950 ATTORNEYS E o w 5 T E o WH B m A K EDGAR ARDELL JOHN H. MOSLEY BY +m.

Dec 7. 95 K. B. HOLSTEBROE ETAL 2,728,177

CARTON PACKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 31, 1950 QNN ATTOR NEYS D 2 1955 K. B. HOLSTEBROE ET AL 2,723,177

CARTON PACKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 31, 1950 a o w Y L 5 NRN %W% m 0 0 N Jim R N H Wm VB H T R W AN MA R m3 Ace? KEJ a NR mm D 7, 1955 K. B. HoLsTEBRoE ET AL I 77 CARTON PACKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July J1, 1950 I'NVENTORS KAYE B. HOLSTEBROE EDGAR I ARDELL JOHN l-L MOSLEY ATTORNEYS D 7, 1955 K. B. HOLSTEBROE ET AL 2,728,177

CARTON PACKING MACHINE Filed July 11 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS V- s| E L N ODO R MM a w EA VA vs gm KEJ v.

D 955 K. s. HOLSTEBROE ETAL I 2,728,177

CARTON PACKING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 v INVENTORS KAYE B. HOLSTEBROE EDGAR ARDELL. JOH'N l-I. MOSLEY ATTORNEYS United States CARTON PACKING MACHINE Kaye B. Holstebroe, Gildersleeve, Edgar Ardell, Middletown, and John H. Mosley, Portland, Comm, assiguors to Emhart Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Delaware Application July 11, 1950, Serial No. 173,062

Claims. (Cl. 53-37) rapidly and in succession continuously through the machine while accomplishing all necessary operations on and in connection with each such carton without halting it or interrupting its travel at any point in the machine, thus providing for a higher rate of output of packed and sealed cartons and a higher operating efliciency than those of carton packing machines in which the cartons must be halted for one or more of such operations.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a carton packing machine of the character described of efiicient and dependable means for segregating from a source of supply all the cans required for a complete charge and for assembling the segregated cans in a predetermined order and compact form at a suitable time and place for insertion into a moving carton in the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a carton packing machine of the character described of can segregating and assembling mechanism which will place the individual cans required for a charge in assigned positions so as to form a compact charge without permitting any of such cans to fall freely any substantial distance or to move in an uncontrolled or unguided manner such as might enable it to assume an incorrect position in the charge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carton packing machine of the character described having means to feed a full charge of cans or the like, as, for example, two rows of three cans each with the cans of one row resting upon the cans of the other, from a source of supply into a moving charge receiver whenever a moving carton suitable to receive that charge has been brought to a predetermined control point in the machine and having cooperative associate means to push all the cans of that charge from the charge receiver into the carton at one operation without interrupting the travel of the carton in the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in or appear from the explanation hereinafter given of an illustrative packing machine of the invention.

Such machine, generally described, comprises an endless chain conveyor trained about horizontally spaced sprockets so that the conveyor has horizontal upper and lower stretches between the sprockets. This conveyor is operated to move continuously while the machine is in operation. It carries a series of carton holders, each atent comprising a pair of spaced relatively openable and clos able projecting carton engaging jaw members. The jaw members of each holder are relatively opened by suitable means as that holder is moved by the conveyor from its lower run upwardly around the supporting sprocket at one end of the machine. A carton feeding mechanism at that end of the machine automatically takes a carton from an adjacent magazine containing collapsed or flattened paper or fiberboard cartons and places it in the holder between the open holder jaw members so that the carton rests on one of its sides in the holder and extends transversely of the conveyor. The holder jaw members thereafter are relatively closed on the carton body between them to square-out such carton body completely if this was not accomplished when the carton was placed in such holder.

A second endless, continuously moving chain conveyor is trained about horizontally spaced sprockets so located that the second conveyor has an upper stretch which in part extends along one side of and adjacent to part of the upper stretch of the first or carton carrying conveyor. The second conveyor carries a series of transversely disposed unitary charge loading mechanisms. Each of these loading mechanisms comprises a charge receiving chamber open at its top and at its end next to the carton conveyor and provided with a vertically movable bottom. A horizontally reciprocable charge pusher is movable in the chamber from a retracted position at the end of the chamber remote from the carton conveyor toward the latter.

A charge feeding mechanism is provided at an appropriate place above the path of the upper stretch of the loading mechanism conveyor and is tripped by each carton brought by the carton conveyor to a control point along the path of the upper stretch of the carton conveyor. The charge feeding mechanism then will deliver the cans constituting a charge to the charge receiving chamber of the particular loading mechanism which subsequently will load that charge into the carton that tripped the charge feeding mechanism. The loading will be accomplished while such carton and charge loading mechanism are being moved in unison and in register with each other by their respective conveyors. The conveyors are suitably driven and the carton holders and loading mechanisms are of suitable numbers and suitably arranged to accomplish this result.

The cans are fed to the loading mechanism to form a charge which will fit snugly in and fill the carton when inserted in the latter by the loading mechanism. Thus, assuming a carton for six small cans, such as cans of beer, arranged in two rows of three cans each with the cans of one row resting upon the cans of the other, the charge feeding mechanism of the machine will lay three cans side by side in a row on the bottom of the charge receiving chamber of the loading mechanism in motion therebeneath while the bottom of the charge receiving chamber is in a raised position in that chamber. This is followed by downward retraction of the bottom of the charge receiving chamber and laying of the remaining three cans of the charge on the already deposited cans of the lowerrow. The opposite ends of the cans of the charge face toward the charge pusher and the open end of the registering carton, respectively. A reciprocable charge guiding funnel of the loading mechanism may be given a short projecting movement so as to extend from the open end of the charge receiving chamber just into the registering carton. The charge pusher then is projected toward the carton and will push the entire assembly of cans of the charge through the funnel completely into the carton. The funnel then is retracted, followed by retraction of the pusher, and the charged carton and the loading mechanism will be moved 3 out of register as they proceed along their separate paths of movement.

The machine includes such suitable associated mechanisms and parts as are required in addition to the parts and mechanisms which have been mentioned to assure performance of the operations which have been described and such additional operations as are involved filling each of a series of 'ear'tons taken by the machine with its inended charge of cans, closing an'd seali-ng the filled 'car'ton, and finally discharging the packed and sealed carteh from the machine. The machine includes suitable safety and control provisions to assure eonunued operation of the machine after it has been started so long-as proper cartons and cans are being sopplied in regular succession; and acted upon intehded ahd to halt the o eration {of the machine or of an affected operating pait thetebf on failure of such supply or if required to prevent damage to the machine or an inebr r'eet reset-t.

A more detailed explahati'on new will be given of the invention as embodied in the illustrative machine shown in the accompanying d'ra" which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation bf-a poit'i'on efthe machine extending rrom its rearward end as approximatel half its length;

Fig. 2 is a "side elevation of a petition a: the machine extending from its 'frolit end for approximately half its length; I

Fig. 3 is a top plan view or the rear apprbximate half portion of the machine'with some parts omitted;

Fig. 4 is a top lan view like Fig. 3 but of the forward approximate half poitio'n of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a 'view ap roximatel along the line '5-'5 indi cated in part on Fig. 2 and in part on Fig. 1, mainly showing certain details of the can feeding and charging mechanisms: A

Figs. 6 to 9 are fragmentary detail views showing Hillel'- ent stages in the operation of taking a collapsed editor; from a carton feeding magazine and placing it in a holder on the carton conveyor;

Fig. 10 is {a face view of a collapsed carton ready for taking froi'n the feeding maga'zinefor transfer to a holder;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the carton 'alone in an opened and-squaredout condition;

Fig. 1-2 is a perspective view of the carton as it appears when fully closed and sealed and resting uponene of its sides;

Fig. 13 is a detail of an e eratin meehanism imperiodically op'ehihg a normally closed vacuum control valve included in the carton -feeding i'n'eaiis, including elements of a safety device for interrupting such periodic operations of the valve;

Pig. 14is a detail of elements of the can feeding mechanism operatively Connected with the vacuum valve operating mechanism and safety device elements of Fig.- 13 so that the periodic operations of the valve will be'discontinued when the supply of cans to the can feeding mechanism falls; 7

Fig. 15 is "a relatively enlarged'detail viewbfeleh 'ents' dihecaa feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 14 and approXima'tely along the line 15-15 of Fig. 16; v

Fig. l6 is a fragmentary relativelyenlarged detail view of the can feeding mechanism approximately along the line 16-46 of Fig. 14; v p I Fig. -17 is-a relatively enlarged section alongthe line 1717 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a detail of a safety device applied to a can delivery chute;

Fig. -19 is a perspective view of one of the charge loading'units;

Fig. 20'is a section through such unit substantially along theline 2ll20 of-Fig. 19;

Figs. 21 to 26, inclusive, are detail views showing different stages in the operation of loading'a'charge of six -cans into a carton;

Fig. 27 is a view showing a-movable bottom of the charge receiving portion of a loading unit raised and supporting thefirst three cans of a charge; and

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 27 but showing the bottom of the charge receiver lowered and a full charge of six cans in the unit.

Carton transporting means (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) The carton transporting means of the machine comprises an endless flexible conveyor 1 in the form of a chain trained about a relatively large a'nds'trong rear sprocket 2 on a transversely extending rear shaft 3, Figs. 1 and 3, and about a similar front sprocket 4 loose on a transversely extending stationary front shaft 5, Figs. 2 and 4-. The transverse rear sprocket shaft 3 is mounted in bearings 6 adjustably carried by longitudinal side frame members '7 in a conventional manner as best seen in Fig. 3 so that the conveyor chain 1 may be kept desirably taut during operation. driven in the desired direction, which is counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3 together, by driving means presently to be described.

The longitudinal side frame members 7 are supported on legs 8, four of which are shown in Figs. 3 and 4 together, so as to be located at a. desirable level above the factory floor or other supporting surface, not shown. The machine frame includes suitable transverse and other components so that it is adequately strong for its intended purpose and so that appropriate and convenient supporting elements are at hand for the support of operating and other movable parts of the machine. Some of these frame elements will be mentioned hereinafter in connecttion with descriptions of some operating parts of the machine. Except for such mention, the machine frame Work will not be further described as in genc-rai it maybe considered to be conventional.

The conveyor chain it carries a series of carton holders 9, Figs. 2 and Each of these-holders comprises a Hat bottom plate l6 fixed on -a saddle block 11 fastened to spaced links of the conveyor chain. The holder plate 19 on the chain is provided at its trailing end with a rigid projecting holder end member or 'jaw 12 forming a right angle with the plate. Pivoted at 13 to the saddle 11 at the opposite or leading end of the plate 16 is a cooperative projecting pivoted holder end member or jaw 14. This is constantlyurged bya torsion spring 15 to assume aposition projecting from the adjacent end of the plate 10 at a right angle therewith and parallel with the fixed trailing end member -12 ;A curved actuating arm 16 for the pivoted holder jaw 14 is provided at its extremity with a laterallyproiecting cam tollower, as a roller 17, in position to ride on the edge 13 of a fixed position cam 19 at the front end-of the machine when the holder is moved from the lower run of the conveyor upwardly around the front sprocket 4. This will swing the pivoted holder jaw 14 about its wpivotal-axisaway from the opposite coopera'ting holder fixed jaw 12 as shown for the holder 9 in theposition indicated at 'A, Fig. See also Fig. 6 which shows a holder 'at-this-sarne position.

As 'the holder 9 is'moved from the position A, Figs. 2 and 6, upwardly around thesprocket 4 at the front of the machine, the cam roller 17 will continue to ride along cam edge 18 of the cam 19 to maintain the-leading pivoted holder jaw 14 open until the roller -17 rides off the upper end 28 of the cam. Too rapid closing of the pivoted holder jaw 14 with consequent possible injury to the contacted portion of a carton 21 is prevented. .As shown forthe holder at the extreme right hand end of Fig. 2, closing of thepivoted jaw by its torsion spring is controlled and made gradual by the restraint of arotating finger 22 which bears against the cam follower 17. When the cam follower 17is released by the rotating finger 22, which is turned counter-clockwise as viewed-in Fig. 2 by means later tobepointedout, the .pivotedjaw 14 will --be completely closed against the adfac'ent end of the carton 21 in the holder =as shown'at' the position 3 The conveyor chain 1 is in Fig. 2. The jaws will grip the carton in the-holderf Carton feeding mechanism (Figs. 2, 4, 6-10, 13 and 14) The carton 21, Figs. 10, 11 and 12, is adapted and intended to hold six small cans, cans of beer for example, and the illustrative machine is suitable for packing such cartons. Each such carton comprises a pair of rectangular side walls 21a and a pair of rectangular end walls 21b, joined foldably together in a conventional manner. The side walls 21a have foldable top jecting flaps 21:1 and 21a respectively. The end walls have foldable top and bottom projecting flaps 21b and 21b respectively.

A carton 21 is shown in Fig. 11 opened and in a squared out condition. The cartons customarily are supplied in a pack with each in a flattened form. As thus supplied, they are'placed in a slightly inclined carton magazine, generally indicated at 25 in Fig. 2, each carton resting on its lower folded edge, indicated at 26, with its parts disposed in relation to one another as shown in Fig. 10.

All flaps are extended so as to lie in the planes of the carton body sections from which they project. The leading carton is retained in an exit frame 27 at the lower delivery end of the inclined magazine 25 by short clips or retaining fingers engaged with edge portions of the flattened carton. The carton retaining means comprise side clips 28 bearing against exposed edge portions of the rear flaps 21:1 and 21a upper retaining clips 29 having short downturned terminal portions 29a fitting over the upper edge of the folded body portion of the carton, and a lower clip 30 fitting over the lower edge of the folded body portion of the carton, all as shown in Fig. 10. The cartons in the magazine may rest on a traveling belt 31 which is moved in the direction of the lower exit end of the magazine by means presently to be pointed out. The

carton magazine may include suitable side rails, such as that indicated at 32 in Fig. 2, for guiding the cartons during progressive movement thereof toward the exit end of the magazine. The delivery end of the carton magazine is maintained in a predetermined suitable position in relation to the path of travel of the carton holders around the front sprocket 4, as by supporting yokes 25a, Fig. 4, extending from the transverse shaft to the exit frame 27 as shown for one of these yokes a in Fig.2.

successively presented leading cartons 21 are taken from the carton magazine through the exit frame 27 by a pair of reciprocating suction cups 33 which deliver them to successive travelling holders arriving at a predetermined point along the path of movement of such holders upwardly around the front sprocket 4. The suction cups 33 are moved from a retracted position, Fig. 6, to a position against the upper part of the front side wall 21a of the leading carton, as shown in Fig. 10 and also in Fig. 7. A partial vacuum is caused in these cups at this time so that they attach themselves to the contacted portion of the carton. Retraction of the suction cups opens the collapsed carton and pulls it from the magazine into an appropriately located travelling carton holder 9.

The suction cups are carried as forwardly projecting elements of hollow suction heads 33a mounted on the are supported by appropriately located fixed guides 36 and 37, Figs. 2, 4 and 6 to 9, inclusive. The upright and bottom proarms 34 are operatively connected by connecting rods 38 with cranks 39, Fig. 4, on a rotating crank shaft 40, as shown for one of these assemblies in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 9. The shaft 40 is rotated in suitably coordinated relation with the movements of the carton conveyor by driving means later to be described.

The operation of the carton feeding means will be understood from Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, particularly when supplemented by Figs. 2, 13 and 14. As shown in Fig. 6, the holder 9 to which a carton is to be fed is beginning to move upward around the front sprocket 4 and the suction cups 33 are retracted. In Fig. 7, the suction cups 33 have been projected forwardly and upward against the leading carton. At this time, a vacuum valve 41, Figs. 2, 13 and 14, is opened by a cam-actuated, intermittently acting, valve opening mechanism, generally indicated at 42, so that sub-atmospheric pressure is supplied from the valve through flexible tubes 43 to the suction cups 33 to attach them to the carton. Retraction of the suction cups from the position shown in Fig. 7 will first pull the lower edge portion of the folded carton from the lower clip 30 as shown in Fig. 8. This will initiate opening of the carton as is apparent from that view. Further retraction of the suction cups will act to open the carton further and finally pull it from the upper clips 29 and the side rear flap engaging clips 28 in sequence. The carton thus will be opened out substantially to the form shown in Fig. 9. At this time its leading side wall section 21a has been pulled against the holder bottom plate 10 with the horizontally creased lower corner portion of the carton seated in the angle at the juncture of the bottom plate 10 with the trailing fixed projecting jaw 12 of the holder as shown in Fig. 9. The holder has, of course, traveled around the axis of sprocket 4 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 9 during the operation just described. The carton will tend to assume a fully opened and squared out position in the holder with its trailing end wall section 21b flat against the fixed jaw 12 as shown for the carton at the right hand end of Fig. 2 before or by the time the partial vacuum in the suction cups 33 is relieved and they are released from the car ton. This is accomplished by a closing of the suction valve 41 and a final retractive movement of such suction cups by their operating mechanism. Closing of the pivoted jaw 14 of theholder against the adjacent end section of the carton therein as previously described will completely square out the carton if that has not already been effected.

The vacuum valve 41, Figs. 2, 13 and 14, is normally closed. It has a projecting valve stem 44 terminating in an enlarged end or button 45. A valve opening bar 46 has a hook 47 at one end resting on the stem 44 back of the button when the bar is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 14 and in full lines in Fig. 13. The bar 46 has its opposite end formed to include a downturned short arm 48 extending into a slot 49 in a slide bar 50 disposed in a slideway 51 in a fixed supporting block 52. A transverse pivot element 53 connects the arm 48 of the bar 46 with the slide bar so that longitudinal movement of the slide bar will effect a corresponding movement of the bar 46. A coil spring 54 resists upward movement of the hooked end of bar 46 about its pivotal axis and thus tends to keep such bar continuously engaged with the valve stem. The slide bar 50 has a slotted terminal portion 55 remote from the valve stem slidably fitting over a cam shaft 56 carrying a cam 57. A cam follower 58 on the slide bar will operate it to effect opening of the valve 41 against the action of a valve spring 59 as the cam follower passes from a low portion 57a to a high portion 57b of the cam 57. The valve will be kept open while the follower is on the high portion of the cam. The cam shaft 56 is driven in coordinated relation with the operations of the carton conveyor and of the carton transfer suction cup mecha nism by driving means presently to be pointed out.

An automatic control device is provided to interrupt taking of cartons by the suction cup mechanism if the supply of cans to the machine for filling the cartons should fail for any reason. As shown in Fig. 14, cans, designated 60, pass to the machine along can rollways 61 and 62, respectively. In practice, these two rollways are supplied with cans equally by suitable known means, not shown. Pivoted to the bottom of the lower rollway 62, as at 63, is a lever 64 extending beneath the rollway and urged by a weight 65 on a projecting lever actuating arm 66 continuously against the cans in the rollway. The bottom of this rollway is appropriately open to permit entrance of the outer end of the lever 64 should the rollway be vacant because of failure of supply of cans. A lever similar to 64 and shown only fragmentarily at 67 is pivoted at 68 to the bottom of. the rollway farther up the incline than, the lever as is urged toward position to enter the bottom of the runway by a weight 69 on a lever actuating arm 70. The lever 64 is operatively connected by connecting rod 71 with a pivoted latch 72 on a fixed frame member 73. A similar connecting rod 74 operatively connects the weighted end of the lever actuating arm with a pivoted latch 75 carried by the fixed frame 73 in adjacent opposed relation to the latch 72. A short generally upright bar 76 is pivoted intermediately at 77 to the fixed frame member 73 and has a short central projection 78 on its top. When the parts are as shown in. Fig. 14 and in full lines in Fig. 13, the latcn '72 rests in a notch 79 at one side of the projection 78 while the latch 75 rests upon the top of such projection. This is the normal operating position of the parts and the engagement of the latch 72 with the notch 79 in the upper end of the bar 76 prevents swinging of bar 76 from its full line position to the right to the dotted line position of Fig. 13 as urged by a coil spring 80. However, upon failure of supply of cans in the rollway 62, the lever 64 will enter the rollway and pull the latch 72 upwardy to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 13. This will release the bar 76 so that it can swing to its dotted line position and the latch 75 will then be moved downward by the rod 74 into engagement with a notch 81 in the top of bar 76 at the side of projection 78 opposite latch 72. Consequently, when the slide bar 50 moves forward or toward the valve 41 under pull of the valve spring, after a valve-opening rearward stroke thereof, an upwardly projecting book 32 on the bar 46 above the pivotal axis of that bar will strike the lower end of the bar 76 and since the latter cannot now swing back to its full line position, the hook 47 at the free end of bar 46 will be raised out of engagement with the valve stem and be held raised and inactive so long as the rollway 62 remains empty. As long as this condition exists, the suction cups will be unable to take cartons from the feed magazine. Carton taking operations thereof will be resumed automatically when the supply of cans in the rollway has been restored.

Charging mechanism (Figs. 1 to 5, incL, and 19 [0 28, incl.)

The charging mechanism comprises a plurality of load ing units, each generally designated 83, mounted on an endless conveyor comprising a pair of parallel chains 84 and 84 which are trained about more rearwardly disposed sprockets 35 and 85' fixed on a transverse shaft 86, Figs. 1 and 3, and more forwardly disposed sprockets 87 and 87' on a transverse shaft $3, Figs. 2 and 4. The

transverse shaft 86 is journaled in bearings 89. on the.

similarly at an intermediate portion to the chain 84' loading unit extends laterally beyond the conveyor chain hold-down rail 98a, Fig. 5, also is provided to keep the a roller 97 down on rail 98.

Each loading unit 83 includes a charging chamber defined by a pair of transversely spaced upstanding side walls 99 on the portion of the carrier frame 92 next to the carton conveyor, a vertically movable bottom plate 100 mounted on the carrier frame between these side Walls, and a horizontally reciprocable pusher head 101 mounted for movement from a retracted position at the end of the charging chamber remote from the carton conveyor through such chamber to push a charge of cans therefrom into a registering carton as presently will be explained. The charging chamber is open at its top to receive a charge and at its end next to the carton conveyor for charging purposes. The pusher head is mounted on a pair of spaced rods 102 projecting from a pusher slide block 103 which is slidable on a pair of transversely spaced supporting rods 104 mounted'on the loading unit frame 92 to extend longitudinally I thereof. The slide block 103 carries a cam follower 105 which, during part of the movement of each loading unit along its upper run, rides along an oblique cam surface 106a of an adjustably positioned normally stationary cam bar 106, Fig. 4. See Fig. 5 also. This will project the pusher block 103 from its retracted position as shown in Figs. 19 to 23, inclusive, and for the first two units 83 reading from the right in Fig. 4 to its. fully projected position as shown in Fig. 25.

This will cause a working stroke of the pusher head' 101 through the charging chamber. The cam follower 105 then will strike and ride along a short reversely oblique cam surface 106b, on the cam bar 106, Figs. 4, 24 and 25, to initiate a return or retractive stroke of the pusher block and pusher head. A supplementary pusher retracting cam bar 106, Fig. 5, is located in a fixed position adjacent the lower run of the loading units so as to be contacted by the cam followers 105 of the loading units on their lower run to complete the retraction of the loading unit pusher heads.

The vertically movable bottom plate 100 of a loading unit is carried on a vertical shaft 107 depending slidably through a bushing 108 in a tubular boss 109 depending from the carrier frame 92. See Fig. 20. 110 on the lower end of the vertical shaft 107 of a loading unit will encounter a curved cam surface 200a at the proximal end of a stationary cam bar 200 as that loading unit is moved upwardly around. the axis of the front shaft 88, Figs. 2 and 27 and in riding up this surface will raise the bottom plate 100 to its raised initial loading position in the charging chamber, this being approximately midway of the height of the chamber side walls 99, as shown in Figs. 20 and 27. Subsequently;

after the bottom row of three cans 60 has been laid in the charging chamber (see Fig. 27) by. can feeding means hereinafter described, the bottom plate 100 is lowered as the roller 110 rolls down the sloping cam surface 200b on a further portion of the cam bar 200. Positively to assure lowering of the bottom plate 100 to the position shown in Figs. 19 and 28 to accommodate the upper row of three cans 60 fed by the can feeding means as shown in these views, a slightly oifset and. higher station: ary cam bar 2 01, Figs. 2- and 27;, is provided to. cor.

A cam roller act with a laterally extending stud 110a projecting from the axis of the roller 110. Should the raised plate 100 fail to descend by gravity, contact of the laterally projecting stud 110a with a lower guiding surface 201a on bar 201 will assure descent of the plate.

A charge guide or funnel 111, Figs 19 and 20, is mounted for limited reciprocatory movements relative to the carrier frame 92 of each loading unit between a retracted position at which the funnel partially overlaps or is telescoped over the side walls 99 of the charging chamber and a projected position at which the funnel spans the space between the charging chamber and the open end of a registering carton on the carton conveyor.

The funnel comprises a relatively stiff rectangular band 112, Fig. 19, telescoped over the adjacent end portions of the side walls 99 as aforesaid. Projecting from the top and side components of this relatively stiff funnel band are spaced flat spring fingers 113, which are bent inwardly to a slight extent toward their free ends. A relatively wide strip of spring material 114 projects from the bottom component of the funnel band 112. The top and side spring fingers 113 and the bottom projecting spring strip may all be slightly bent inwardly at their free ends toward the axis of the funnel as shown. The funnel band rests upon and is secured, as by fastening means such as indicated at 115, Fig. 19, to a funnel carrier bar 116 mounted on the forward ends of parallel slide rods 117, each of which passes through and is supported slidably by spaced bearings 118 and 119 on the bottom of the loading unit carrier frame. The ends of the slide rods 117 remote from the funnel are connected by a cross bar 120 carrying a depending cam follower 120a. When the cam follower 120a contacts a curved cam surface 121a at the proximal end of a stationary cam bar 121, Figs. 4 and 23, the funnel will be projected from its retracted position, Figs. 21 and 22, to position to extend slightly into the registering carton 21, as shown in Figs. 23 and 24. The funnel is maintained projected during loading of a charge of cans into the carton as shown in Fig. 24. The cam follower 129a then strikes and is guided by a stationary retracting cam bar 121, Figs. 4, 24 and 25, retracting the funnel from the carton. See Figs. 25 and 26 which show the funnel after its return to its retracted position.

Can feeding mechanism (Figs. 2, 5, 14 to 17, incL, 27 and 28) The cans 60 are supplied by two rollways 61 and 62, respectively, Fig. 14, as hereinbefore has been stated. These rollways terminate at their delivery ends in a pair of vertical chutes 123 and 122, respectively. These are located in spaced apart relation above the upper horizontal portion of the path of movement of the loading units 83 with chute 122 ahead of chute 123. See Fig. 2. Beneath the open lower ends of the chutes 122 and 123 are star wheels 124 and 125, respectively, mounted on transversely extending horizontal shafts 126 and 127, re spectively. The shafts extend transversely of the machine, being journaled in bearings such as those indicated at 128 and 129, respectively, Fig. 5, for the shaft 127, these hearings being carried by spaced longitudinally extending frame members 130 and 131, respectively, of a superstructure generally designated 132, Fig. 5, mounted on standards 133 uprising from the main longitudinally extending side frame members 7. Each loading unit while on its upper run is moved beneath the star wheels 124 and 125 successively.

The star wheels 124 and 125 are alike and each is formed with two diametrically opposite series of adjacent transversely extending shallow recesses or pockets 134 in its periphery, three in number in each series. Each pocket 134 is arcuate in cross-section and is adapted to serve as a seat in which a can 60 fed thereinto from an overhead chute 122 or 123 will be partially disposed. The star wheels have flanges 135 at the ends of the pockets 134 to prevent endwise shifting movements of cans in such pockets. The star wheels 124 and are turned clockwise about their respective axes as viewed in Figs. 2 and 14 by means hereinafter described. An arcuate gate 136 is mounted to oscillate about the axis of star wheel shaft 126 between a can feed preventing position between the lower end of chute 123 and the peripheryof star wheel 124 and an open position at the left of the lower end of chute 122 as shown in Fig. 14. When the gate is open, cans may descend from the chute 123 is succession into successively presented pockets 134 therebeneath. A similar oscillatory gate 137 is similarly disposed in relation to the lower end of the chute 123 and to the star wheel 125 and is shown in closed position in Fig. 14.

The gate 136 is carried by a radial arm 138 on a hub 138a, Fig. 5, loose on the shaft 126. The gate 137 is carried by a similar arm 139 on a-hub 139a loose on the shaft 127. The star wheels 124 and 125 are sufi'iciently out of phase, i. e., disposed in angularly different positions about their respective axes, that when they are turned in unison about such axes and the gates 136 and 137 are opened in sequence, with a predetermined time interval between their opening movements, three cans for the initial half of a charge first will be delivered to the star wheel 124 and then after such time interval three cans for the remainder of the charge will be delivered to the star wheel 125. The star wheel 124 will deliver its three cans to the charging chamber of a loading mechanism 83 as shown in Fig. 27 and the star wheel 125 a little later will complete the charge in the same travelling loading mechanism. See Fig. 28. The star wheels are driven in unison by a pinion 140 on a driven shaft 141 in mesh with a pinion 142 on the shaft 126 and also in mesh with a pinion 143 on the shaft 127. See Fig. 15. The shaft 141 carries a sprocket 144 driven by a chain 145 which is driven by means presently to be described.

Cans descending from the chute 122 into pockets in the periphery of star wheel 124 as shown in Fig. 14 are retained against outward displacement from such pockets by a suitably positioned arcuately curved can retaining rail 146until the star wheel has turned clockwise to move the can carrying pockets successively beyond the lower end of the can retaining rail, at which time the cans will be laid in turn in the charging chamber of the loading mechanism 83 travelling therebeneath as shown in Fig. 2. The rail 146 is supported by a fixed bracket 147, Fig. 14, so that it is located at the upstream side of its associate star wheel in relation to the direction of travel of the loading mechanisms 83 therebeneath and so that the lower end of such rail is at approximately the level of the lowest part of the associate star wheel. A similar can retaining rail, designated 148, is provided for star wheel 125 and is carried by a fixed bracket 149.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the arcuate can retaining rails 146 and 148 extend downwardly below the level of the upper portions of the charging chamber side walls 99 of the loading units passing from the right to the left beneath the star wheels 124 and 125. The upper portions of the charging chamber side walls 99 may be turned laterally outward until substantially horizontal as indicated at 99a, Figs. 2, 19, 27 and 28, and slotted or partially cut away intermediately as indicated at 1550, Figs. 19 and 20, from their edges inwardly and downward to the extent required to clear the downwardly extending terminal portions of the can retaining rails 146 and 148. The cans being fed to a charging chamber of a loading unit passing beneath the can feeding mechanism thus may roll from the lower ends of can retaining rails out of star wheel pockets brought successively into can releasing position into the charging chamber so as to be laid in a row therein without being dropped or permitted to fall out of control.

The can-feeding control gates 136 and 13'? are carried by arms 138 and 139 as aforesaid. These arms and their hubs 138a and 139a, respectively, are elements of bell crank levers 151 and 152, respectively, Fig. 15. These levers include other shorter laterally turned arms 153 and 154, respectively, connected by links 155 and 156, respectively, with levers 157 and 158 mounted on shafts 159 and 169, respectively. These shafts are parallel with each other and with the aforesaid star wheel supporting shafts 126 and 127 and above the level of the latter. Vertical coil springs 1.61 and 162 are provided between a fixed overhead frame 163 for the can chutes 122 and 123 and upturned shouldered spring retaining studs 164 and 165, respectively, on the levers 157 and 153 and continuously urge the levers 157 and S downward. The springs 161 and 162 thus tend to maintain the gates136 and 137 in their open positions. The gates are retained in their closed positions, as shown for the gate 137 in Fig. 14, against the action of these springs, by latch means hereinafter described, until a carton to be filled and in a proper squared-out condition in its holder arrives at a predetermined point along its path of travel. At this point, the carton will trip a control lever to initiate a projecting from the lever 157 at the opposite side of its shaft 159 from the spring 161. See Fig. 15. A similar latch 171 on a lever 172 hanging from and loose on a shaft 173 engages a similar latch seat 174 on a short latch arm 175 on the end of lever 15% at the opposite side of shaft 16-h from spring 162. The shaft 168 is a rock shaft journalled in fixed supports 147a, Figs. 14 and 16. It may be rocked counter-clockwise about its axis by a lever -76, fixed thereto and depending therefrom asbest seen in Fig. 14 when the downwardly spring pressed lever 157 has been raised to its upper limit by a high part 177a of a cam 177, Fig. 15, on the star wheel shaft 126, acting through a cam follower 178 which is carried by lever 157 and under which cam 177 turns as indicated in Fig. 16. The upper end of lever 176 is provided with a c0unterweighted projecting arm 1760, Fig. 14, tending to swing lever 1'76 clockwise. A rod 179 extends slidably through a suitably apertured lower end portion 17612 of the lever 1'76. A compression coil spring 180 is disposed on an end portion of rod 179 between the lower end portion 17% of lever 176 and a nut or the like 181 on the adjacent end of the rod. See Figs. 14 and 16. The opposite end of rod 179 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a trip lever 182 which is pivoted intermediately on a horizontal pivot 18?: adjustably carried by a supporting memher 1% mounted on a transverse shaft 135, Fig. 14. The lower end of trip lever 182 has a rigid projecting lateral trip finger 136 depending in the path of the upper portion of fully squared-out carton 21 in a holder on the upper run of the carton conveyor. When such a carton arrives at a predetermined point along its path of movement, it will contact the trip finger and sweep the lower end of the lever 182 forwardly and upwardly until the trip finger rides on the top of the traveling carton as shown for the right hand carton in Fig. 14. The rod 179 will compress the spring 186, putting pressure on the lever 176 tending to swing it counterclockwise. This pressure continues until a high part of cam 177 has raised lever 157 and lowered lever latch arm 171i slightly. This will be sufticient to allow the lever 176 to rock the shaft 168 counter-clockwise so as to swing latch 166 from its seat and outwardly beyond the lever latch arm. The lever 157 then may descend as its cam follower 1'78 drops to a low part 177b of earn 1'77 under pressure of spring 161, thereby opening gate 136. p

The means for effecting a slightly delayed opening of gate '13! after the gate 136 is opened will now be particularly described. By referring to Fig. 16, it will be noted that lever- 158 carries a cam roll 187 located above and for 'coiitact with the periphery of a (:am 188 on the star wheei shaft 127. The shaft on which the leve 153 is mounted also carries a second lever, desighated 189, loose on such shaft and positioned along side'of lever 158. Lever 189carries a cam roll 190 overlying the periphery of earn 191 which also is on the star wheel shaft 127. Both cams 188 and 191 are like the earn 177 and each has diametrically opposite high portions, as is apparent from Fig. 15. However, as also shown by Fig. 15, the cam 191 is in phase with the cam 177 while the earn 188, controlling the lever 153, is out of phase with both these cams, having a relatively later action on its lever. The lever 189, which may be termed a time delay lever, has a short latch arm 192 at the opposite side of the shaft 160 from the cam roll and along side of the latch arm 175 on lever 158. See Figs. 16 and 17. A latch lever 193 depending from the shaft 173 along side of the latch lever 172 has a latch element 194 bearing against a latch seat 195 on the latch arm 192 to latch the lever 189 in its raised position. The latch lever 193 is connected at its lower end by a rigid laterally and downwardly curved arm 193a thereon and a link 196, see Figs. 15, 16 and 17, with the lower end of latch lever 167. Consequently when latch lever 167 is 'swun'g to the right from the position shown in Fig. 15 to release the lever 157 so as to effect opening of the gate 136, the latch lever 193 will be similarly moved to release the time delay lever 189. The latter will drop to a lovt portion of its cam 191 which is in phase with the earn 177. This will raise a projecting arm 197 on the end of the lever 189 opposite that provided with the cam roll 190.

Projecting arm 197 on lever 189 has a vertically apertured portion 197a through which a vertically movable stud 198 extends. See Fig. 15. A compression coil spring 199 encircles the stud between the arm 197 aiid the head of the stud which is indicated at 198a. This spring tends to keep the stud raised until a not 202 on the lower end of the stud is held against the bottom of arm 197. The arm 197 is curved laterally so that the head 193a of the stud ispositioned under an individually adjustable stop element 263, typically a threaded stud, carried by an outwardly projecting arm 204 on latch lever 172. Consequently, when the arm 197 is raised by descent of time delay lever 189, the head of the stud will strike the stop element 293. Since the latch lever 172 cannot then swing outward as the lever 158 is still being latched in its'raised position, the spring 199 will be compressed. This will exert pressure tending to swing the lever 172 outward and when a high part of cam 188 raises the cam roll 187 and the lever 158 slightly, the pressure of the spring 199 will cause the lever 172 to swing outward or counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 15. This will release the lever 158 so that it may drop on a low part of its cam and effect opening of the gate -137.

The control mechanism just described in detail assures opening of the gate 136 at the proper time after a carton to be filled arrives at a control point to allow descent of three cans from the chute 122 into the charging chamber of an underneath loading mechanism 83 for inserting'a charge subsequently into that moving carton. Opening of the second gate 137 will take place sufiiciently later to eileet feeding of the final three cans of the charge to the same moving loading unit. In the meantime, the moving carton 21 which tripped the lever'182 and set the control mechanism for opening of the gates under control of the cams just described will have passed beyond the trip'lever. The gate 136 will be'closed when the next high portion of the cam 177 raises the lever 157. The latch lever'167 then will latch the lever'157 in its raised position to maintain gate 136 closed. 'Raising "of the time delay lever 139 which occurs at the same time will cause removal of pressure from spri g 199 on latch lever 172. consequently, when lever 158 is raisedb'y a high portion of its cam 188, the latch'lever 172 willbe 13 latched in a raised position to maintain the gate 137 closed. Each gate remains open only for a sufiicient period of time for three can? to descend from the overhead chute to the underneath-star wheel pockets. This can feeding action cannot take place, however, unless the control mechanism has been pre-set by tripping of the control trip lever 182 by a carton to be filled. This arrangement is such that the cans of a complete charge supplied by the feeding mechanism to a loading mechanism 83 will subsequently be loaded by that mechanism into the carton which tripped the feed control mechanism.

An occasional can may be supplied to a rollway in an abnormal or defective condition, as by being provided with a plurality of end closures at one end thereof or an excess of solder on its rim. Such a can may cause a jam in the can chute, as at the throat connecting the rollway proper with the vertical delivery chute. To guard against placing only half of a charge in a carton because of this condition, each of the chutes 122 and 123 may be provided with a safety device for detecting when such chute is empty.

This safety device comprises a lever 205 suspended pivotally at its upper end on a horizontal pivot element 206 carried by a supporting member 287 at the side of each can chute, as shown for the chute 122 in Fig. 18. The lever 205 has an offset lower contact end portion thereof, indicated at 208, bearing against the ends of the cans 64) in the chute, a counterweight 209 on the upper end of the lever effecting this result and the chute being sufficiently open for entrance of the contact end portion 268 of the lever. An adjustable stop 210 on the support 207 may be provided to limit the extent of swinging movement of the lever portion 208 into the delivery chute. When the chute 122 is filled with cans, as shown in Fig. 18, the lever 205 will remain in position against the outer end of a movable stem 211 of a normally open micro-switch 212 to keep the micro-switch closed. However, should the can chute 122 be empty, the lever 295 will swing away from the micro-switch stern 211, as from the full line position to the dotted line position of Fig. 18. The micro-switch then will be open. The micro-switch may be connected operatively by suitable known means, not shown, to the power means for operating the machine so that operation of the machine will be stopped and the operator thus apprised of a condition that requires cure to obviate incomplete loading of cartons.

Carton and carton flap engaging and guiding elements; gluing and sealing means As hereinbefore explained, each carton taken from the carton feeding magazine is placed in a holder 9 moving upwardly around the front carton conveyor sprocket 4 so that one of the carton body side wall sections rests against the back plate 10 of the holder, the end wall sections of the carton body are outwardly projecting from the holder back plate and the flaps on the carton body wall sections project from opposite lateral ends of the holder. The condition of the carton is substantially as shown in Fig. ll. As travel of the holder containing a carton continues upwardly around the axis of the front sprocket 4 toward the position B, Fig. 2, the flaps on the ends of the carton side wall section next to the holder bottom plate encounter fiap guiding rods respectively located at opposite sides of the path of the lower portion of the carton, one of such rods being indicated at 213, Fig. 2. These guide the contacted flaps downwardly into contact with cooperative curved flap folding and guiding bars, one of which is shown at 2135:, by which, as travel of the carton holder continues, the flaps on the lower carton side wall section will be folded downwardly to positions substantially at a right angle with their body section and against longitudinally extending side boards 2130. See Figs. 4 and 5. The carton in the holder also is contacted by overhead curved presser bar means 214, Fig. 2, and a continuation thereof indicated at 214a, Fig. 5, which exert downward pressure toprevent accidental or unintended outward displacement of' the carton from its holder.

The flaps at the ends of the upper carton body side section first encounter curved guide bars 215, Figs. 2 and 4, which fold them upwardly to approximately right angles with the upper carton side wall section and guide them to position between longitudinally extending guide rails 23.6 and the side boards 2135. The leading'end'wall flap at the end of the holder opposite the charging end isfolded inwardly to its closed position by contact with a curved flap folding end extension 217, Fig. 4, on the adjacent side board 2135. The trailing flap of the end wall section at the end of the carton opposite the charging side will first be engaged by an oscillating flap'tucker 213, Fig. 4, which will fold it inwardly to a suflicient extent to be engaged by flap folder 217 when it reaches the latter and also is folded to its closed position. On the: opposite or charging end, the flap on the leading carton body end section will be struck by a reciprocating flap tucker 21-9, Fig. 4, and bent outwardly sufficiently so that it will be bent further and to a right angle with its body section by the curved flap folder 22h, which extends from the end of the second side board 2131:. The flap on the trailing carton body end section at the charging end, will be similarly folded outwardlp by the flap folder 220 when it encounters the latter.

The flaps of the carton in the holder will be retained in the positions above described until near the beginning of travel of the carton in register with a loading mechanism for charging the carton. From that point on, the side board 21311 at the charging side of the path of movement of the conveyor will be cut away between the charging mechanismand the adjacent end of the carton as indicated at 213b, Fig. 5, to afi'ord clearance for a charging operation such as hereinbefore has been described. This will remove guiding pressure from the outwardly folded body end section flaps at the charging end of the carton but these will remain open and all other flaps of the carton will be guided until the carton has been charged by the charging mechanism travelling in register therewith.

As the charged carton is moved on beyond the path of its leading mechanism, the end section flaps at the charging end will be closed. To accomplish this, an outwardly curved flap closing bar 221, Fig. 3, is located in position to contact the flap of the: leading end section of the carton so as to fold it to closed position. A-rotary flap tucker 222 is provided to strike the trailing end section flap and to push it inwardly to a sufficient extent so that it also will be closed by the flap closer 221 when it encounters the latter. flaps at both ends of both its body end sections inwardly folded to closed positions. These are the carton inner flaps. The outer flaps which are on the body side sections of the carton, will be retained in their outwardly folded open positions until after they have been supplied.

with glue from gluing mechanisms 223, which respectively are located at opposite sides of the path of travel of the charged carton.

The gluing mechanisms include vertical gluing rollers 224, Figs. 1 and 3, carried by oscillatory frames 225 pivoted to swing about vertical axes 226 and supplied with glue through supply tubes 227. A glue drain basin 228 may be provided beneath the gluing mechanisms. The gluing mechanisms include scraper rollers 229 associated with the gluing rollers. In operation, the associated gluing rollers and scraping rollers are rotated by trains of gearing, generally indicated at 230, and are oscillated rapidly about the vertical pivotal axes 226 of the gluing mechanisms so that glue will be applied only to the portions of the outwardly turned open outer flaps that will overlie portions of the inner carton flaps when the outer flaps have been closed.

After glue or other suitable adhesive has been applied The carton now will have theto the outer flaps they are closed by curved upper flap folding bars 231 and reciprocally curved lower flap folding bars 232. See Figs. 1 and 3. The carton with its outer flaps thus closed against the previously closed inner flaps may now be carried between pairs of edgewise movable cooperative upper and lower side pressure plates 223 and 224, respectively. These are moved edgewise by upper cranks 235 and lower cranks 236, Fig. 1, so as to approach close together and then recede during each cycle of their movements, the plates at the opposite ends of the carton meanwhile pressing flatwise against the closed outer flaps to facilitate gluing of these to the closed inner flaps of the carton.

While being subjected to the flap pressing and sealing action of the pairs of pressing plates 233234, the carton is held firmly against the bottom plate of its holder by outer appropriately curved presser bars 237. After leaving the zone of fiap sealing pressure of the pairs of plates 233234, further sealing pressure may be applied to the carton ends by projecting stiif bristles 238 on bristle carrying side plates 239. These are appropriately curved to conform to the path of the carton while it is moving around the axis of the rear carton conveyor sprocket 2.

On entering its lower run, the carton conveyor may move the packed and sealed carton, still in its holder, between spaced rows of vertical squaring and pressing rollers 240 alternating with short upper and lower horizontal rollers 241 and 242, respectively, which contact only the projecting end portions of the upper and lower sections of the carton body at the ends of its holder. There is one set of vertical rollers 240 and short upper and lower rollers 241 and 242, respectively at each side of the path of movement of the carton, only one of such sets being shown and that in Fig. 1. This arrangement maintains the carton squared out while exerting sealing pressure on the closed flaps at the opposite ends of such carton. Further pressure on these closed ends of the carton may be exerted by further more closely spaced vertical side rollers, such as those shown in Fig. l at one side of the path of movement of the carton and indicated at 243, the short upper and lower rollers being omitted here.

At or near the end of the lower run of its conveyor, the carton is discharged from its holder onto the transfer conveyor 23, Fig. 2, which, as hereinbefore has been explained, delivers the carton onto the take-away conveyor 24, Fig. l. The carton then is substantially as shown in Fig. 12.

Machine drive and connections (Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive) Power is derived from an electric motor 244, Fig. 1. This motor is connected by a belt and pulley arrangement 245, Figs. 1 and 3, with a second motion shaft 246 which is operatively connected by a clutch mechanism 247 with a speed reducing unit243. The speed reducing unit 248 has a driven shaft projecting from opposite sides thereof as indicated at 249 and 250, respectively, Fig. 3. The driven shaft 249 is connected by a chain and sprocket transmission 251 with the shaft 3 which drives the rear sprocket 2 of the carton conveyor. The shaft 249 also is operatively connected by a chain and sprocket arrangement 252 with the shaft 86 which drives the rear sprockets of the conveyor of the charging mechanism. The conveyor carrying the carton holders and the conveyor carrying the loading units thus are driven from the same power means in timed coordinated relation with each other. The respective conveyors and the numbers of carton holders and loading units respectively thereon are such as to assure register of a travelling loading unit with the carton in a travelling holder as required for a cartoncharging operation as hereinbefore described.

The shaft 86 is provided with a sprocket 253, Fig. 1, and the aforesaid chain 145, Figs. 5 and 15, which effects driving of the can feeding star wheels, is trained about and receives motion from this sprocket. Consequently, the star wheels are interconnected with the driving means for the carton and loading unit conveyors and are driven in timed coordinated relation with these parts.

A chain and sprocket drive indicated at 254 in Fig. 4 drives a sleeve 255 on the carton conveyor front sprocket shaft 5. From the sleeve 255, a driving means 256, Figs. ,2 and 4, drives the rotating finger 22 by which closing of the pivoted jaw 14 of each carton holder is retarded and made gradual. The driving means 256 also drives a pulley 257, Fig. 2, which drives the belt 31 at the bottom of the carton feeding magazine 25. This same driving means also drives the cam shaft 56, Figs. 2 and 13, carrying the cam 57 which effects periodic opening movements of the valve 41 for applying suction to the carton taking suction cups 33.

A chain and sprocket arrangement 258, Fig. 2, connects the rotating shaft 88 with a transversely disposed horizontal shaft 259 The latter is operatively connected, as by gearing indicated at 260, Fig. 2, with a vertical shaft 261 carrying the oscillating flap tucker 218 and a cam 261a operating mechanism 261b for oscillating such tucker. Shaft 29 is similarly connected with a vertical shaft 262 carrying a cam 263 for operating mechanism generally indicated at 264 and oscillating about a vertical axis 264.1 to reciprocate the flap tucking rod 219.

The carton conveyor front sprocket 4 carries a pair of similar spur gears 265 respectively fast to opposite sides thereof as shown in Fig. 4. Each of these spur gears drives a pinion 266 turning on the shaft 40 which is provided with the crank 39 for reciprocating the slide bar carrying one of the suction cups 33. The construction is the same for each of the suction cups. The shaft 40 also is operatively connected by a chain and sprocket mechanism as indicated at 267, Fig. 2, with a shaft 268 for driving the carton take-out conveyor 23.

The shaft 86 has a driving connection through a chain and sprocket arrangement 269, Fig. 1, with a horizontal shaft 270 which has a driving connection, as by gear means as indicated at 271 with the vertical pivot shaft 226 about which the gluing roll carrying frame 225 is oscillated. The arrangement is the same for each of the pair of gluing mechanisms. This same shaft 270 acts through a driving arrangement indicated at 272, Fig. 3, to oscillate a horizontal rock shaft 273 about its axis. The oscillations of the shaft 273 are transmitted to the gluing mechanism frames 225 through motion transmitting means indicated at 274. The driving mechanism 269 also drives a short horizontal shaft 275,.Fig. 1, and this is connected through gearing as indicated at 276 with a vertical shaft 277 carrying the rotating flap tucker 222, Fig. 3.

A chain and sprocket arrangement 278, Fig. 3, from shaft 256 of the speed reduction unit 248 drives an overload release clutch member 279 cooperating with a driven member 280 of such clutch to drive a transverse shaft 281. The latter acts through similar chain and sprocket arrangements 232 to drive a pair of upper shafts 283 carrying the cranks 235 which operate the upper flap pressing side plates 233 and also drive a lower shaft 284 which operate the cranks 236 which actuate the lower flap pressing side plates 234.

The clutch 247 is controllable by a shifter arm 285 connected by a rod 286 with a handle 287, whereby the machine may be thrown into and out of operation at will. As a safety provision, the cam bar 106, Fig. 4, which controls the movements of the charging pushers of the loading units 83 is mounted for horizontal oscillatory movement about the axis of a vertical pivot element 288 and is maintained in the predetermined position desired by a spring 2% pressing the cam bar against an adjustable stop screw 291. If a charging pusher should encounter an obstruction, as by a charge of cans jamming in the loading unit, the cam bar will be forced back against the spring. This will impart motion through a link 292 to a crank arm 293 on a vertical rock shaft 294. A latch 295 en- 17 gages the clutch rod 286 and holds the clutch 247 engaged against the action of a spring 297, Fig. 3. The latch 295 will be disengaged from the rod 286 when the crank arm 293 is actuated in the manner described so as to permit the rod 286 to act to throw out the clutch and stop the machine. To re-set this mechanism, manually operable connections such as indicated at 298 are provided for the rock shaft 294 and the parts operated thereby. These may be operated by a manually operable handle at each of opposite sides of the machine.

Many changes in and modifications of the illustrative machine shown and described and substitution of equivalents for component elements thereof will now be obvious to or readily occur to those skilled in the art. We therefore do not Wish to be limited to the details of the illustrative machine.

The term cans as used herein is not limited in meaning to metal containers commonly known as tin cans but instead includes such other containers and articles as are adapted to be packed by a machine of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a carton packer, an endless conveyor mounted to move along a closed path extending around spaced horizontal axes, a series of carton holders on said conveyor, each adapted to retain a carton on the conveyor with the axis of the carton horizontal and transverse of the conveyor, a second similarly mounted movable endless conveyor having a portion extending along side of and adjacent to a portion of the first conveyor, a series of loading mechanisms on said second named conveyor, each comprising a charging chamber having its axis horizontal and transverse of said second conveyor and being open at the end thereof proximate to the first conveyor, said charging chamber being adapted to receive and position a quota of cans so as to form a charge therein appropriate for one of said cartons, means to drive said conveyors continuously in synchronism with each other to cause register of charging mechanisms and cartons on adjacent portions of the two conveyors, means to feed a quota of cans for a charge to each of successive charging chambers on the second conveyor, and means to push the resultant preformed charge from each such charging chamber horizontally into a registering carton during continued travel of both said carton and said charging chamber, said loading mechanism including a reciprocable charge funnel mounted on the end of the charging chamber proximate to the registering carton, movable motion transmitting means on the loading mechanism operatively connected to the funnel, and cam means to impart movement to the motion transmitting mechanism to reciprocate said tunnel to project it into and withdraw it from the adjacent end of the registering carton.

2. In a carton packer, an endless conveyor mounted to move along a closed path extending around spaced horizontal axes, a series of carton holders on said conveyor, each adapted to retain a carton on the conveyor with the axis of the carton horizontal and transverse of the conveyor, a second similarly mounted movable endless conveyor having a portion extending along side of and adjacent to a portion of the first conveyor, a series of loading mechanisms on said second named conveyor, each comprising a charging chamber having its axis horizontal and transverse of said second conveyor and being open at the end thereof proximate to the first conveyor, said charging chamber being adapted to receive and position a quota of cans so as to form a charge therein appropriate for one of said cartons, means to drive said conveyors continuously in synchronism with each other to cause register of charging mechanisms and cartons on adjacent portions of the two conveyors, means to feed a quota of cans for a charge to each of successive charging chambers on the second conveyor, and means to push the resultant preformed charge from each such charging chamber horizontally into a registering carton during continued travel of both said carton and said charging chamber, said means to push a charge of cans from a charging chamber into the registering carton comprising a pusher head reciprocable in 'the charging chamber toward and away from the carton and said loading mechanism including a charge funnel reciprocably mounted on the end of the charging chamber proximate to the carton, and, in addition, means to reciprocate said pusher head and said funnel, respectively.

3. In a carton packer, an endless conveyor mounted to move along a closed path extending around spaced horizontal axes, a series of carton holders on said conveyor, each adapted to retain a carton on the conveyor with the axis of the carton horizontal and transverse of the conveyor, a second similarly mounted movable endless conveyor having a portion extending along side of and adjacent to a portion of the first conveyor, a series of load ing mechanisms on said second named conveyor, each comprising a charging chamber having its axis horizontal and transverse of said second conveyor and being open at the end thereof proximate to the first conveyor, said charging chamber being adapted to receive and position a quota of cans so as to form a charge therein appropriate for one of said cartons, means to drive said conveyors continuously in synchronism with each other to cause register of charging mechanisms. and cartons on adjacent portions of the two conveyors, means to feed a quota of cans for a charge to each of successive charging chambers on the second conveyor, and means to push the resultant preformed charge from each such charging chamber horizontally into a registering carton during continued travel of both said carton and said charging chamber, said means to push the preformed'charge of cans from each charging chamber into a registering carton comprising a reciprocable pusher mechanism movable with the charging chamber and means to reciprocate said pusher mechanism, said means to drive said conveyor including a clutch normally engaged when the packer is operating, and, in combination therewith, a safety control device operatively interconnecting the means to reciprocate said pusher mechanism and said clutch so as to remain inactive during normal reciprocating strokes of the pusher mechanism and to be activated when an abnormal resistance is opposed to a charge pushing stroke of the pusher mechanism to disengage said clutch.

4. In a carton packer, a loading mechanism comprising a charging chamber open at its top and at one end and adapted to hold a plurality of superposed rows of transversely aligned cans with the opposite ends of the cans turned toward the ends of the charging chamber, respectively, a plurality of horizontally aligned, adjacent open-bottomed vertical can chutes, means to supply a constant succession of transversely disposed'horizontal cans to each of said chutes, individual laterally oscillatory gates for controlling feed of cans from the bottom ends of the several chutes, individual can transfer'star wheels mounted to turn about individual transversely extending horizontal axes beneath the respective chutes, conveyor means to move said loading mechanism along a horizontal path extending beneath and adjacent to the star wheels with the charging chamber transverse to said path of movement, means continuously to drive said conveyor means and to rotate said star wheels about their respective axes, and means to open the gates of the chutes above the respective star wheels sequentially beginning with the gate first in line above the path of movement of the charging chamber and to close each gate after a predetermined period of dwell in its open position.

5. In a carton packer, the combination recited by claim 4 and, in addition, conveyor means to move an openended horizontalcarton along a path adjacent to the path of the loading mechanism, with the open end of said carton turned toward the path of the loading mechanism, means to drive said last named conveyor means in synchronism with the first named conveyor means to position the open end of the carton in alignment with the 19 open end of the charging mechanism, and means arranged to be actuated by the carton at a predetermined control point to initiate a cycle of operations of said means to open and close said gates.

6. In a carton packer, a plurality of closely spaced openbottomed, vertical can chutes, a loading mechanism having an open-topped charging chamber adapted to receive and form a plurality of cans into a charge appropriate for a carton to be packed, a continuously moving conveyor carrying said loading mechanism with the charging chamber upright along a horizontal path extending beneath the vertical can chutes successively, and can feed control means operating to deliver cans from the successive chutes above the path of the loading mechanism sequentially into the charging chamber of the loading mechanism passing therebeneath, said can feed control means including a lever arranged to be tripped by a moving carton to be filled with a charge of cans from the charging chamber at a predetermined control point to initiate a cycle of operations of said can feed control means.

7. in a carton packer, the combination recited by claim 6 and, in addition, safety means associated with said chutes and operable to prevent delivery of cans into the charging chamber from all of said chutes despite tripping of said control means by a moving carton should delivery of cans from any of the chutes be prevented by a jam or failure of supply of cans therein.

8. In a carton packer, a plurality of closely spaced open-bottomed, vertical can chutes, a loading mechanism having an open-topped charging chamber adapted to receive and form a plurality of cans into a charge appropriate for a carton to be packed, a continuously moving conveyor carrying said loading mechanism with the charging chamber upright along a horizontal path extending beneath the vertical can chutes successively, and can feed control means operating to deliver cans from the successive chutes above the path of the loading mechanism sequentially into the charging chamber of the loading mechanism passing therebeneath, said feed control means comprising individual laterally oscillatory gates for the lower ends of the respective chutes,- individual can delivery star wheels constantly rotating about transverse horizontal axes below the respective chutes and above the path of movement of the charging chamber of said loading mechanism, individually vertically swingable levers operatively connected to the respective gates and springpressed downward to open the gates when the levers are lowered and to close the gates when the levers are raised, individual rotating cams operating the respective levers to raise them periodically in sequence with the lever for the gate of the first chute in .line raised first, pivoted latches engageable with said levers when. raised to retain them against return downward movement and thus to retain said gates in closed positions, a lever arranged to be tripped by a moving carton passing a predetermined control mechanism and connected to release the latch for the lever of the gate of the first chute when that lever is next on the high part of its rotating cam, and means rendered effective by the releasing movement of that latch to release the latch for the lever of the gate for the succeeding chute in line when the latter lever next is on the high part of its rotating earn.

9. In a carton packing machine, conveyor means to carry a series of transversely disposed horizontal cartons for cans along a predetermined path including a substantially straight horizontal portion, a series of loading mechanisms, each for charging a plurality of superposed v rows of transversely aligned cans endwise into one of said cartons, conveyor means to carry said series of loading mechanisms along a path including a substantially straight portion extending in adjacent parallel relation with part ot the substantially straight horizontal portion of the path of said cartons, means to drive the conveyor means for the cartons and the conveyor means for the loading mechanisms continuously and so as to cause consecutive loading mechanisms to travel in aligned charging relationships with consecutive cartons while such loading mechanisms and cartons are moving along said adjacent parallel portions of their respective paths, can feeding means responsive to movement of consecutive cartons past a control point along their path to supply the corresponding loading mechanisms with cans to form charges therein appropriate'tor the cartons, and means to operate consecutive loading mechanisms to cause each to insert its charge of cans into the aligned carton while travelling therewith.

10. In a carton packing machine, conveyor means to carry a series of transversely disposed horizontal cartons t'or cans along a predetermined path including a substantially straight horizontal portion, a series of loading mechanisms, each for charging a plurality of superposed rows of transversely aligned cans endwise into one of said cartons, conveyor means to carry said series of loading mechanisms along a path including a substantially straight portion extending in adjacent parallel relation with part or the substantially straight horizontal portion of the path of said cartons, means to drive the conveyor means for the cartons and the conveyor means for the loading mechanisms continuously and so as to cause consecutive loading mechanisms to travel in aligned charging relationships with consecutive cartons while such loading mechanisms and cartons are moving along said adjacent parallel portions of their respective paths, can feeding means responsive to movement of consecutive cartons past a control point along their path to supply the corresponding loading mechanisms with cans to form charges therein appropriate for the cartons, means to operate consecutive loading mechanisms to cause each to insert its charge of cans into the aligned carton while travelling therewith, means to close inner flaps at the receiving end of each of said consecutive moving cartons after insertion of a charge of cans thereinto, means thereafter to apply adhesive to the outer flaps at the ends of each of said moving cartons, and means subsequently to close said outer flaps and apply sealing pressure to the opposite ends ofeach of said moving cartons.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,935,269 Jones Nov; 14, 1933 1,993,079 Wild Mar. 5, 1935 2,027,946 Wild Jan. 14, 1936 2,050,547 Thayer Aug. 11, 1936 2,179,643 Thayer Nov. 14, 1939 2,206,279 Ferguson July 2, 1940 2,293,498 First et a1. Aug. 18, 1942 2,471,214 Hope May 24, 1949 2,546,401 Hamilton Mar. 27, 1951 2,587,953 Arneson Mar. 4, 1952 2,596,339 Lufkin May 13, 1952 2,631,767 Banks Mar. 17, 1953 

